This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Defenbaugh; Ruth Shutters; Jeray; Merk Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/zk.2ADI/1948 Message Board Post: Harlan woman dies after fall from scenic overlook 08/04/2005 ©The Harlan Tribune REGIONAL -- A 38-year-old Harlan woman died Monday as a result of injuries sustained from a fall off an observation tower at the scenic overlook along Interstate 680 south of Missouri Valley. Dawn Defenbaugh was taken by Lifenet helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, according to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office. Lt. Tim Thompson said authorities were dispatched to the lookout point about 4 p.m. Monday, responding to a 911 call. A passerby and maintenance worker at the rest stop area had found Defenbaugh lying on the concrete awake and in pain, Thompson said. Upon the sheriff's department's arrival, Defenbaugh was being attended to by rescue personnel from the Missouri Valley Fire and Rescue. She was transported to Creighton where she later died, officials said. Authorities said Defenbaugh's vehicle was parked in the parking lot at the scenic overlook, a rest stop along the interstate that has an observation tower that overlooks the Loess Hills area to the west. Authorities continue to investigate the incident. Services Funeral services for Defenbaugh will be held Friday, August 5 at 11 a.m. at Hancock United Methodist Church in Hancock with burial in the Harlan Cemetery. Visitation was held Thursday, August 4 from 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home Avoca Chapel, with family greeting friends from 7-8:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Defenbaugh is survived by her mother, Ruth Shutters, of Hancock; husband Bill Defenbaugh of Harlan; daughters Molly, Megan and Alexandria Defenbaugh, all of Harlan; sister Kimberly (Ron) Jeray of Spencer; brothers Jeffrey (Rhonda) Shutters of Hancock and Mike (Cathy) Shutters of Walnut; brother-in-law Dan (Valerie) Defenbaugh of Altoona; and step-grandmother Elizabeth Merk of Manson. In lieu of flowers, donations to offset funeral expenses can be made to Bill Defenbaugh in memory of Dawn Defenbaugh, c/o Commercial Federal Bank, 712 Durant St., Harlan, Ia. 51537. In addition, donation cans have been placed around Harlan for persons to donate to the family for funeral expenses. = = = = = = = = = = = = Dawn Marie Defenbaugh 08/04/2005 ©Daily Nonpareil Dawn Marie Defenbaugh, age 38, a Harlan, Iowa, resident since 1998. Previously in the Harlan/Tennant area and the Hancock, Iowa, and Avoca, Iowa areas. Passed away Monday, August 1st, 2005, at Creighton Medical Center in Omaha. Dawn was born in Lubbock, Texas. She graduated high school in 1985 from AHST in Avoca and attended 1 year of Business College in Nebraska. She was a Data Entry Clerk for 12 years with Communication Data Services. Dawn was a member of Hancock United Methodist Church, Hancock, Iowa. She was married for 19 years. Survivors include mother, Ruth Shutters, of Hancock, Iowa; husband, Bill Defenbaugh, of Harlan; daughters, Molly, Megan and Alexandria Defenbaugh, all of Harlan; sister, Kimberly Jeray, and husband, Ron, of Spencer, Iowa; brothers, Jeffrey Shutters, and wife, Rhonda, of Hancock, Iowa, and Mike Shutters, and wife Cathy, of Walnut, Iowa; brother-in-law, Dan Defenbaugh, and wife, Valerie, of Altoona, Iowa; step-grandmother, Elizabeth Merk, of Manson, Iowa. Visitation with the family will be Thursday, August 4th, 2005, from 8:30am - 9pm at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca. Family will greet friends at Pauley Jones, Avoca, from 7-8:30pm on Thursday, August 4th, 2005. Funeral service will be Friday, August 5, 2005, at 11am at Hancock United Methodist with Reverend Dr. Judy R. Flanegin officiating. Burial will follow the service at Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, with luncheon to follow at St. Michael's Rosman Parish Center, Harlan. Memorials may be offered to Dawn Defenbaugh Memorial Fund.